Mathew alston



M. ALSTON.

GATE.

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Patented Feb. 13, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT onion.

MATHEW ALSTON, OF ADRIAN, ILLINOIS.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,611, dated February 13, 1894. Application filed February 6, 1893. Serial No. $1,194. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATHEW ALSTON, a citiaen of the United States, residing at Adrian, m the county of Hancock and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Gate, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in gates.-

The objects of the present invention are to simplify and improve the construction of gates, to enable them to be readily counterbalanced to preserve the proper equilibrium,

and to facilitate their opening and closing.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings-Fig1ire l is a perspective view of a gate constructed in accordance with th s invention; Fig. 2 a sectional view. Fig. 3 1s a detail perspective view showing the hanger and pivot bolt. Fig. dis a detail perspective view of one of the adjustable weights.

Like numerals of reference indicate correspondlng parts in all the figures of the drawmgs.

l designates a swinging gate suspended by a hanger 2 anda pivot bolt 3 from a supportmg frame, which is composed of opposite posts 4 arranged at each side of the gate and a horizontal top piece 5 secured to and conmeeting the upper ends of the post. The swinging gate is provided with a rearward extension 6 and a top extension 7, and the hanger 2, which is constructed of metal and which is substantially rectangular in shape, may be secured to the gate by any number of bolts not less than two; said two bolts bemg arranged to pass respectively through two of the gate-rails to prevent the rocking of the gate within the hanger. The top of the hanger is provided with a perforation to receive the pivot bolt, the head of which is arranged within the hanger; and-the bolt 3 extends upward through the top of the supporting frame and is secured by a not 8 arranged on a washer 9 to protect the wood of the supporting frame. The rearward extension 6 of the gate is narrower than the main portion of the gate to facilitate opening and closing in winter when snow is on the ground, as the front end of the gate may be elevated without depressing the rear end sufficiently to come into contact with the ground or a drift of snow. On the rails of the extension which are connected by a vertical bar, are mounted adj ustable counterbalancing weights l0,which are provided with grooves in their lower faces to receive the rails, and which are adapted to be shifted on the extension to preserve the equilibrium of the gate to prevent sagging and to facilitate opening and closing. The bar serves to prevent the displacement of the weights. Thebolt 3 remains stationary and the hangeris swiveled thereon, thus avoiding friction between the bolt and nut and the frame and enabling a nut to be employed for the vertical adjustment of the gate without causing such nut to be loosened and detached by the swinging of the gate.

The top extension of the gate is preferably formed by employing long vertical bars and stretching barbed or other wire on the extension of the bars.

It will be seen that the gate is simple and inexpensive in construction and may be readily opened and closed, and that the proper equilibrium may be preserved.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle, or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, as other forms of adjustable weights maybe employed for counterbalancing the gate.

What I claim is- The combination with a supporting frame having a horizontal cross-piece 5, of a pivoted gate having horizontal rails which are extended rearwardly beyond the pivotal point, independent weightsslidably fitted upon the extensions of the rails to counterbalance the weight of the main portion of the gate, a

hanger 2 secured to the gate by bolts which pass through a plurality of the rails thereof to prevent rocking of the gate within the tions and engaged at its upper threaded ex- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as tremity above the plane of the cross-piece by my own I have hereto affixed my signature 1n adjusting nut 8, the lower end of the bolt be the presence of two Witnesses.

ing headed beneath the surface of the hanger, MATHEW ALSTON. 5 whereby the latter is swiveled upon andturns Witnesses:

freely around the bolt, substantially as speci- WM. GRIFFITHS,

fied. GEO. W. THOMPSON. 

